Wherein a surgeon tells some stories, shares some thoughts, and occasionally shoots off his mouth. Like a surgeon.

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Rumbling

I feel a disturbance in the force, a stirring. Desire precedes delivery; but just this side of the edge of possibility I see resumption of Surgeonsblog, if only for a while.

There's no doubt I've always wanted to; it's been a combination of running low on ideas, and the taking over of my mind by the disignorable realities of politics, of our nation, our world. And it was easy: every day there are outrages aplenty, no end of blogfodder, as the evidence of devolution of our politics is everywhere. I suppose I got a few things out, decongested my hepatobiliary system. But really, it was the ever-truth that nothing I said on my other blog mattered. I always knew it. I don't know what led to the final recogniton that there was no point. Partly, I think, it was re-reading some posts over here, and the comments they engendered. It's not cold fusion, but I think it was useful, once in a while adding something to the common good, if only a tiny blip.

Here's the problem, though: now fully retired, I have only my diminishing memories on which to draw. My estimable surgical colleagues in the blogosphere are out there every day, doing good things and storing them up for good writing. I might have to steal ideas from them. I may have to repeat myself on a topic or two; spiff it up, add to it, make it better.

And I'd happily receive suggestions from any reader any time; comments here, or later. Barge in anytime. Meanwhile, I need a little more fermentation. But I think it's brewing..

26 comments:

NE1
said...

Teach.

You still have knowledge and a world outlook that can be spread. Use your experience to interpret daily events. Professor David MacKay (http://withouthotair.blogspot.com/) has written a book about *numeracy* in every day life.

Critical impact of aid in Africa.Tough choices of health care reform.365 Reasons Why You Should Start Exercising Now

If you are worried about only adding noise, just be sure to link and it'll all work out in the end.

Okay, here's an idea for you. I once heard that the main cause of fatality in car accidents is the severing of the femoral artery. Now, to be honest, it was on "ER" that I heard this. Is it true? How to accidents and/or trauma in general end up in fatality, and give us a few (more) stories. That is, if you want to :-)

Glad I never removed you from the feed. I guess I shoulda said something in the other place, but I can do that later instead of mucking up these comments.

You may be retired, but that doesn't mean your experience is useless. You've done a great job of showing that not all progress is good (while some, of course, is), and I hope young and future surgeons will be able to learn from you yet.

As suggested there must be plenty of news for you cut into. Not that this place need become "BadSurgery", but I'm sure some reason can be added in many cases. And presumably there is also genuine good news out there.

I think I once suggested you could have have a columnlike thing for young surgeons, but I don't know if any read. Soliciting questions from us might at least be a start. Even if you have little new to add, it's an excuse to link to past posts.

So if noöne else wants to, let me start:

I've decided to put my stuff where my mouth is and make good on my suggestion that we need to breed less. I don't expect I'll ever be in a position to have children, but I don't want any now, nor have I ever, so I think I may as well get a vasectomy. Now of course if I never have sex, that's pointless, but who's to say how the future'll be.

I'm seing my GP Tuesday, is there anything I should know and consider before that? And, of course, before the procedure? What'll happen? (I did a long while ago read the liveblogging when of the Sciblings had his done, but more info can't hurt.)

All I can say is you can take the surgeon out of the OR,,,but you can't take the O.R. out of the surgeon...(plagiarized from some place I cannot remember)...I followed you over at ''cutting'', enjoyed it all even when I disagreed. I will miss Frank, but am sure he will appear here soon.

Just clicked on your other site and thought I'd check this one out. Bingo!

Adding it to my shared blog list as a sign of encouragement, of course.

We are all more than our old experiences, even in retirement. Everything in broadcasting (my former work) and electrical engineering (my husband's former career) has changed, so we're all kind of obsolete in these latter decades. You're not alone!

I'm learning more about interior design now -- and music. I've never really liked country music, but after listening to Rascal Flatts a couple of years ago, I've added it to my areas of interest, in small doses.

Last night, I watched a wonderful show on Animal Planet. I learned all about hippos! They spend most of their time in the water during the day -- they mate in water, sleep in the water, give birth and nurse their babies UNDERWATER. They have documented communication between individuals and groups. Hippo sweat looks like BLOOD -- red and angry, but it has anti-inflammatory properties. Fascinating stuff!

Do an open forum a couple times a month. For example: Your visitor Sili wanted to know about vasectomy experiences. Here's ours: My husband (now Grandpa) had his procedure done in 1973. This was a wedding gift and it's the best gift I have ever received! We married with five kids in a merged family and didn't want any more. Since then, two of our sons have had the procedure more recently.

My husband underwent a very simple operation performed in the office of a urologist in Marlboro, Massachusetts. I watched and held his hand. He was funny as all get-out under the sedation.

Now my husband guarantees me "Not a sperm in a barrelful" and I happily threw away all the pills, condoms and other paraphrenalia. I haven't even worried about conception for decades.

There was some rumblings in earlier years about how a man could get allergic to his own sperm or semen and there might be immunity problems. Not sure where that controversy led.

By all means, Sili, if you wish to be child free, go for it! These days, there are plenty of people who support this choice. On this tiny planet, we've already got a population problem.

Parenting requires rigorous work, is not always appreciated, and changes the nature of you life in every possible way. You have to expend a huge hunk of personal time, space, and money. I have regrets sometimes because I might have been one of the dedicated working women who opted out of motherhood in the 1960s and 70s.

Grandparenting is more fun, now that I'm 70 and hubby will be 75 on 6/23. However, I'd be just as happy as a loving foster grandmother with anybody's child at this point in my life. Biology is definitely NOT destiny.

(No, we've never met, even virtually. I've just been caught in the world of medicine and surgery as a patient too long, and developed an interest in seeing it from the other side. Your writing has taught me a lot, as have several other medbloggers.)

I have four comments about the vasectomy First, it really does make your sex life better. Two, there's some evidence that it's associated with a type of alzheimer's wherein the victim loses language skills. Three, you haven't lived until you ejaculate clotted blood. And last, it imparts to swinging bachelors such as yourself immunity from a variety of legal entanglements. And yes, there are too many people anyway.

About Me

Boring, Unoriginal, but Important Disclaimer:

What I say here is as true as I can make it, based on my experience as a surgeon. Still, in no way is it intended as specific medical advice for any condition. For that, you need to consult your own doctors, who actually know you. I hope you'll find things of interest and amusement here; maybe useful information. But please, please, PLEASE understand: this blog ought not be used in any way to provide the reader with ideas about diagnosis or treatment of any symptoms or disease. Also, as you'd expect, when I describe patients, I've changed many personal details: age, sex, occupation -- enough to make them into no one you might actually know. Thanks, and enjoy the blog.